A lawsuit against the city of Bayonne and several police officers claiming the officers savagely attacked a man has turned into a battle over evidence — with an attorney for the alleged victim lodging a complaint with the judge, according to court documents.

At the heart of the dispute is the defendants’ refusal to turn over certain documents because of a “criminal investigation” into the officers’ conduct, an attorney for Jason Rios, 35, said in court papers.

“The defendants apparently refuse to produce the ordered materials because of a criminal investigation,” Aymen Aboushi wrote in an Aug. 28 letter to a federal judge regarding the August 2012 incident on 33rd Street. “Defendants have stated that they wish to suspend discovery, and stay this matter, pending the outcome of the criminal investigation.”

Among the documents the judge ordered the city to turn over are personnel files and all Internal Affairs complaints for each officer named in the lawsuit. The order was dated Aug. 9 and the city was given 10 days to comply.

On Aug. 29, 2012, Rios called 911 because his car was on fire behind his residence and the lawsuit says police pepper-sprayed him, knocked him out cold, and arrested him for no reason. Rios says a videotape recorded by a witness proves it.

A police report said Rios acted in a “threatening manner.”

The Aug. 28 letter to District Court Judge Michael Hammer said the plaintiff “vehemently opposes a stay of this matter and discovery, and requests that the court hold the defendants in contempt for willfully violating the consent order.”

The defendants named in the federal lawsuit are the city of Bayonne, the Police Department, former Chief Robert Kubert, Lt. Robert Deczynski, Sgt. Franco Amato, and officers James Mahoney, Joseph Saroshinsky and Roman Popowski.

Rios was charged with assault, resisting arrest and obstruction, but the criminal charges were later downgraded. Rios is set to go on trial in Bayonne Municipal Court in December.

Reached by phone, attorneys for two of the defendants refused to comment on the Aug. 28 letter.

Bayonne Public Safety Director Jason O’Donnell refused to comment and an FBI spokeswoman said the bureau does not “comment on the existence or nonexistence of any investigation.”